Luke AFB: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $2,289/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $2,452 (HUD FY2026). About $163/mo over BAH.
- Typical home: $455,168 in Maricopa County AZ (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $3,576/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $2,490/mo BAH.
Your plan for Luke
2026 BAH at Luke AFB
Military Housing Area AZ013: Phoenix, AZ. Duty ZIP 85309. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,061 | $1,587 |
| E-2 | $2,061 | $1,587 |
| E-3 | $2,061 | $1,587 |
| E-4 | $2,061 | $1,587 |
| E-5 | $2,289 | $1,740 |
| E-6 | $2,457 | $1,857 |
| E-7 | $2,475 | $2,070 |
| E-8 | $2,484 | $2,331 |
| E-9 | $2,517 | $2,367 |
| W-1 | $2,472 | $1,992 |
| W-2 | $2,481 | $2,328 |
| W-3 | $2,493 | $2,376 |
| W-4 | $2,535 | $2,448 |
| W-5 | $2,622 | $2,460 |
| O-1E | $2,478 | $2,286 |
| O-2E | $2,487 | $2,358 |
| O-3E | $2,547 | $2,445 |
| O-1 | $2,319 | $1,830 |
| O-2 | $2,454 | $2,217 |
| O-3 | $2,490 | $2,391 |
| O-4 | $2,646 | $2,451 |
| O-5 | $2,775 | $2,463 |
| O-6 | $2,796 | $2,466 |
| O-7+ | $2,814 | $2,487 |
Rent near Luke
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,457 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,583 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,839 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,452 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,720 |
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA (Maricopa County AZ). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $1,715.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $455,168 (Zillow ZHVI, Maricopa County AZ, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $464,954 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $3,219/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $167/mo (0.44% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $190/mo
- Total (est.)
- $3,576/mo
- 2026 loan limit
- $832,750 (only matters with partial entitlement)
All numbers are estimates for planning. BAH: DTMO 2026. Rent: HUD FY2026 FMR. Home value: Zillow ZHVI, Sept 2026. Rate: Freddie Mac 7.4% (2026-10-15). Tax: Census ACS county median. Insurance: our placeholder (0.5% of value, min $1,200/yr), not a quote.
FAQ
What is the 2026 BAH at Luke AFB?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $2,289 a month; without dependents $1,740. O-3 with dependents: $2,490. Military Housing Area AZ013 (Phoenix, AZ). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Luke AFB?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Maricopa County AZ: $1,839 for 2 bedrooms, $2,452 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $1,715 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Luke AFB?
It depends on how long you'll stay and whether you'd keep it as a rental. Run the planner above with your rank and plans.
What's the VA loan limit near Luke AFB?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for Maricopa County AZ: $832,750.